Ashworth Alcove

  The above photograph was taken on my fourth birthday. I had the chicken pox, so the only people who could attend my party were people who had already had them. Obviously, Barney had the chicken pox before me. My twenty-fourth birthday didn't have Barney balloons (but there was ice cream cake!), but it was equally as enjoyable. I spent the day lounging with my family before making a trip to David Crockett State Park. Highlights of the day: - Violet sleeping 20 minutes later than usual (me sleeping 20 minutes later than usual) - Waking up to a birthday serenade voicemail - Pulling the birthday card to eat an extra biscuit at breakfast - My nephew coming to visit in a dragon costume - Violet's shoe falling off (being kicked off) into the waterfall at the park - Seeing a lobster in the creek - no, it was not a crawdad, it was huge and it was a lobster - A gift certificate for a one hour massage (see next paragraph regarding mom knees) - A surprise birthday cake, co...

My dear friend Baylee came for a visit last week. We've been friends since childhood, so it's special that we both have babies now. Oliver was born in July, making him 2 months younger than Violet. Unfortunately, they won't grow up together the way Baylee and I did, seeing as we will be living in various places throughout Violet's childhood. However, I imagine they'll always have some kind of relationship.

Violet has an amazing ability to make demands and her mood can shift vastly from one situation to the next. One moment she's smiling with a twinkle in her eye. The next moment the atmosphere shifts, storm clouds roll in and we find ourselves in full on meltdown mode. At least I finally got a shot of those teeth.

The weekend was full of fall festivities. October has always been my favorite month. It never fails, as soon as October begins, I already feel it slipping away. Truthfully, from the first day of the month I find myself thinking in a mindset of "hurry up and enjoy it," which makes no sense at all, because typically, I don't enjoy things that are hurried. Who does? Have I mentioned that I love pumpkins? Because I do. When Ben is out of the Army and we settle down permanently, we will have a pumpkin patch. He doesn't know about it yet, but that's the plan. The crows above the forest call; Tomorrow they may form and go. O hushed October morning mild, Begin the hours of this day slow. Make the day seem to us less brief. -Robert Frost